While you don’t see them very often these days, fore-edge paintings were once some of the loveliest book illustrations around. Literally, they were around the edges of the book.
A fore-edge painting refers to an image painted or drawn on the closed leaves of a book. While covering the collected page edges in gold or…
Source: Lovely Hidden Paintings Adorned the Edges of Historic Books | Atlas Obscura
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by Jack Monroe, bestselling author of 'A Girl Called Jack'
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First Night Design 
I love these and in fact the other day was visiting a friend who had just purchased a piece of art from the forties….which had a ‘remarque’ – a similar concept to the fore-edge. Thank you for reminding us all of this….have a superb day – enjoy the sunshine…and of course keep smiling…janet:):)xx
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Funnily, the sun has just come out so I’m smiling, in spite of just having returned for the umpteenth time from the dentist. It’s a pleasure to remind you. xx
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Wow!
The edges that show of the content inside and in between.
Thanks,
Shiva
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They are simply wonderful, aren’t they!
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What wonderful images, and treasures indeed. Something that should be revived to help the flagging hardback market, in this electronic age.
Best wishes, Pete. x
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I agree. I’ve seen gold leaf and once saw a complete image in an antiquarian bookshop but could not afford to buy it. Naturally! x
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That’s an amazing picture Sarah! I’ve seen books with patterns on the edges ~ scrolls and whirls and the like, but never a complete image. Thank you for posting it! 🙂
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Delighted to please you, Jacqueline! They are delightful.
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Those are amazing and beautiful. I’d sort of bvaguely heard of it but have never seen examples. Thanks for sharing.
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My pleasure. Those examples are beautiful indeed.
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Beautiful. I don’t think I’ve ever seen that before. We won’t find that on Createspace!
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That we won’t!
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Gorgeous. I think I’ve seen them in the Antiques Road Show and at the British Library but never set hands on one…. Thanks, Sarah!
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Gorgeous is the word. Antiques Roadshow is one of the many things I’m enjoying watching again now I’m back!
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I vaguely recall seeing this effect on occasion – had forgotten all about it. Very nice!
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It is!
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Quite a few decades ago now, I read a book that had morse code printed like this and it turned out to be very pertinent to the story, but you had to decipher it yourself. 😀
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What a neat idea.
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I came across this a couple of years ago, aren’t they beautiful and so intricate. They amaze me. Hope your trips to the dentist are over, for at least six months Sarah.
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Ravishing. As for the dentist, the short answer is no!
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You poor thing 😦
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Wow!
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Yup!
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*Gasps* I love, LOVE these. I’ll be looking for these artworks from now on, and I do not want to think about all the used book shops and rummage sales I’ve been to and maybe passed by one of these treasures. I love Shopping Goals, and this is a beaut!
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Ditto, ditto and ditto. The closest I’ve come – and it’s not close at all – is an 1899 edition of Emma with gold leaf on the fore-edge. I’m sure such books are snapped up by dealers way before customers like us come into the picture.
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Alas, yes – you are right…
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